Reversible life-saving sailing raft.



T. L. JENKINS, E. OBEIEN, J. BURGELL & J. GRERAR.

REVERSIBLE LIFE SAVING SAILING RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.23,1913.

Patented June 30,1914,

a b .M l nd? w 9% m T m H o 0 o 0 230 n I o m o w J m a a Q m 0. 0 if 0 m o f 0L. 0

COLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. I). C.

THOIVIAS LEONARD JENKINS, OF WILLIAMSTUWN, EDVJARD OBRIEN, OE FOOTSCRAY,

AND JOHN BURGELL AND JOHN CRERAR, 0F WILLIAMSTOWN, VICTORIA,

TRALIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUS-

BEVERSIBLE LIFE-SAVING SAILING RAFT. v

Patented June 30:, 19141.

Application filed October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,931.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS LEONARD Jnnnms, ED\VARD OBnrnn, JOHN BURGELL, and JOHN Cnnnnn, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing, respectively, at 47 Osborne street, lVilliamstown, Ningfield street, Footscray, 5 Railway Terrace, Williamstown, and ist lllawarra street, Nilliamstown, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Life-Saving Sailing Rafts; and we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has been devised to provide a life saving appliance to be used at sea in case of wreck or other marine disaster.

An essential feature in the raft consists in its peculiar construction which enables it when lowered down from or thrown overboard from a ship to right itself and be ready for the reception of human beings no matter which side of the raft may fall into the water.

In Order that our invention may be the more easily understood, reference may be 13 made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a raft embodying our invention. Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 a central cross sectional elevation, while Fig. 4: is a plan of the platform shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In these drawings a is a raft, Of a boat shape, having out water ends a. The sides of a are preferably straight and the top and bottom preferably flat. The raft a has a rectangular Opening a centrally placed for a reversible bottom or platform 6 which latter is capable of working up and down on guide rods 0 (see Fig. The shell of the raft a, particularly its sides, we construct in a number of sectional air chambers cl the latter being each fitted at top and bottom with a screwed or hinged lid 0 said lids being capable of being easily removed and they are provided with compressible rings or the like to make them watertight, a convenient key or thumb-screw being provided on the said lid or in close proximity thereto. The rectangular opening a is fitted with the guide rods 0 as aforesaid for the reversible bottom or platform to work or slide on.

Longitudinal stays may be fitted on both sides of the raft to form a rail 0 for the human hands to grasp. Rope beckets may be also attached to the jack stays.

The reversible bottom or platform 7) may be constructed of galvanized plate iron or in some cases corrugated for stiffening purposes the said plate Z) being perforated with holes so as to leave a margin only on the sides and ends of the plate, preferably about three inches. The bottom or platform 6 is provided with a keel f the latter being bolted through from both sides and provided with galvanized iron clamps f fastened on each side of the keel for the additional purpose Of fastening a mast and oars thereto. The clamps holding the mast and oars are preferably provided with winged nuts so as to be easily removable while the raft is being beaten about by the waves.

he guide bolts or rods 0 (upon which the reversible bottom or platform 6 is free to move up or down) are held in position by a lock nut c on each end.

The raft a is fitted on both sides with a wooden cleat or mast plate it for the mast to be slipped in and a step 2' (Fig. 4-) is rovided respectively thereunder in which the foot of the mast may repose.

Corresponding plates having apertures or sockets 76 therein are provided in a plurality of positions both on the top and the bottom of the raft to form sockets for rowlocks and a similar plate Z is also respectively placed at the top and bottom of the stern end for holding a steer oar. Locking pins 39 are provided (see Fig. 3) to keep the bottom or platform fixedly in its place upon the guides while the raft is in use and similar locking pins are provided so as to perforate each of the respective masts beneath its holding plate It.

Life lines an illustrated by the dotted lines (Fig. 1) are fitted to and fastened around the sides of the raft; chain plates may also be conveniently placed on the sides of the raftfor lashing, sailing and hoisting purposes while shackles may be placed at the stem and stern a to receive the hooks for hoisting and in which the painter of the raft may be tied.

Cushions padded with resilient material not affected by the water are in practice attached on the top of the portions where the screw caps e are placed to act as seats.

The raft a is preferably constructed of thin galvanized iron or wood. In operation when the raft is slid along the deck and lowered overboard it quickly rights itself into a horizontal position, the bottom plate or platform Z) will fall to its lowest limit and form a floor in the position shown in Fig. 3. Some person will then either be lowered into or otherwise climb into the raft and place pins 7) in their position so as to keep the floor b at its bottom limit. The shipwrecked persons may then be lowered into the raft, or if already in the water, may climb on board with the aid of life lines m and will take their seats upon those portions or parts in the line of the screw covers 6 their feet resting upon the bottom platform 6 and their hands grasping the hand rails 0 If the condition of the sea permits, the cushions aforesaid may be lowered into the raft and used as seats.

Food, water and other comforts or medicines are stored in the compartments (Z covered by the caps e the latter being unfastened from time to time as required.

When necessary one set of the oars n and one of the masts 0 can be unolipped at 7 from their position under 7 and brought into use for pulling and sailing the raft.

If desired a large canvas bag can be constructed to fit over the parts e and f and Copies of this patent may be obtained for down into the recess in the body of the raft and form a water proof bag or tank to keep the lashing of the waves from wetting the legs and feet of the occupants.

We claim 1. In a life saving raft combination of a water-tight boat-shaped member having a central open space therethrough, a rigid platform vertically movable in said space, means for guiding said platform, and a keel member mounted on both sides of said platform and tending longitudinally thereof.

2. In a life-saving raft the combination of a water-tight boat-shaped member having a central open space therethrough, a rigid platform vertically movable in said space, vertical rods mounted on said boat-shaped member and engaged by said platform so as to serve as a guide therefor and a keel member mounted on both sides ofsaid platform and extending longitudinally thereof.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

THOMAS LEONARD JENKINS. EDWARD OBRIEN. JOHN BURGELL. JOHN CRERAR. Vitnesses WV. H. CUBLEY, A. T. MADDEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

